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Promise of the Month - May, 2006

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  (Matthew 5:8 NASB)

What is a peacemaker?... According to Nelson’s Topical Bible Index .. it is those who work for peace. Ok, this sounds like a good and worthy thing to become. So how do I become a peacemaker? Sounds like such a big task!... Do I support world peace?... Do I join the peace corps?... Or maybe I will work on a plan to get everyone to compromise and just get along!!! First rule is “NO OFFENDING ANYONE”. Well that must be a good place to begin....,Yeah I’ll start small and look for ways to make peace with everyone I know, compromising and being selfless to ensure everyone is happy with me... and the way they want to be, is up to them ,...and I’ll support it.    ....Maybe this will catch on... and before you know it, the whole world will little by little learn to compromise and tolerate one another for the greater good. Then I will be blessed according to God’s promise.  Right? Well, I’m gonna get started... Wanna help?

This example is exaggerated for emphasis, but haven’t we ourselves been duped by this popular world philosophy? A peacemaker in God’s perspective is much different. Let’s see how God wants us to be peacemakers by looking at what His word says. Here are three principles to go by.

First - God is the great peacemaker and our example. He requires us to have peace with Him.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

(Comment)- We must recognize that God’s primary focus is for us to have peace with Him. Dilemma! God is all loving and wishes for no one to go to hell. But God is just, and because He is just, He will punish sin wherever it is found. What does God do? Compromise?  No, according to the bible, God is not like man that he should change. So because he loves us He sends His innocent Son to suffer the punishment that is meant for us because of our sins. Thus, Christ satisfies the wrath due for our sins and sets us free from their penalty. It’s been said “we broke the law, but Jesus paid our fine.” This satisfaction of God’s justice in turn restores peace between man and God. All God requires of us now is to confess our sins (the breaking of His law), turn from them and put our faith in Jesus for our forgiveness. Scripture makes this clear. Then we have peace with God. He made it possible for us to have peace with Him.

Second - We as Christians become peacemakers. Our job is to help others make peace with God.

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

(Comment)- After we first have peace with God, then our primary peace efforts should have their focus on reconciling other men and women to God. We must not get overly weighed down with peace negotiations between man and man. This becomes tiresome and wasteful, for without reconciling with God the primary peace is lost. Plainly, in the end, what matters is that we are right before God, not right before man. We will be called the children of God when we are like Jesus, preaching the good news that men and women can be reconciled to God. This in turn brings peace between man and man, because they are coming in alignment with God.   

Third - Rules regarding peacemaking. Good guidelines to bear witness that you have peace with God.

1 Peter 3:8-13 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

(Comment)- [Paraphrased] When Jesus was asked "What is the greatest commandment?" He said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your mind and all your strength. This is the first commandment. The second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself”. Please take note that these are not suggestions but commands. So, in summary, if you want to please God, then you must first love Him with all you have and seek to have peace with Him. And if you do, then you will find yourself naturally making peace with your fellow man hoping for them to reconcile with God. 

In light of the scriptures it makes it clear that God’s definition of peace is much different than the popular worldview.  His first desire is for us to have peace with Him. Then He wants us to be His ambassadors of peace showing others how to be reconciled to Him. This is what being an effective peacemaker is: to help others make peace with God.  All other peace efforts are small in comparison and sometimes futile.

These are only a few scriptures and comments about peacemakers. More information can be found in the Holy Bible.
Some information taken from Nelson’s Topical Bible Index.
All Bible quotes taken from King James Version.

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